covaithe's E1: Death's Reach

[Lord Sessadore]

Once his eyes reopen, Sarenax examines his hand and arm as he contemplates his vision. Deadly visions ... it is inevitable. Ignoring the damage to his hand for the time being, he glances around to the newly revealed paths. "The vision revealed nothing about which path should be taken. Perhaps each leads to one of the next three gates," the ebony dragonborn says tonelessly.

[sblock=Sarenax]Sarenax the Reaper- Male Dragonborn Cleric 21
Initiative: +13, Passive Perception: 25, Passive Insight: 30
AC:37(39), Fort:32, Reflex:31(33), Will:31 -- Speed:6 (8 when bloodied)
HP:91/142, Bloodied:71, Surge Value:37, Surges left:7/9
Action Points: 1
Aura: Astral Vibrance. Bloodied enemies starting their turn within 5 squares take 2 radiant damage.
Powers -
Righteous Brand
Priest's Shield
Strengthen the Faithful
Astral Wave
Promise of Victory/Inspiring Strike
Blinding Light
Bastion of Health
Channel Divinity (Death Knell)
Healing Word [ ] [ ] [ ]
Dragon Breath
Oath of Enmity
Second Wind
Divine Power
Wrath of the Faithful
Indomitable Spirit
Angel Ascendant
Bless
Mass Cure Light Wounds
Angelic Presence
Divine Armor

Cord of Divine Favor
Ruby Scabbard
Cloak of Displacement
Black Feather of the Raven Queen
Gloves of the Healer
Obsidian Steed

Conditions:
+2 item bonus to AC and Ref until hit.

Full character sheet[/sblock]

 

[renau1g]

Kalas will clasp Sarenax on the shoulder and begin moving towards the paths, waiting for the others to follow. "So, where to go? Perhaps the *lich* can see a bit more information about the paths?" Kalas asks, leaning back in the saddle.

[sblock=OOC]
That Epic Destiny in the new dragon magazine is pretty cool, the Raven Knight

Actually the whole articles pretty neat, too bad Kalas is a warden, not a pally otherwise there'd be some stuff in it for him. Sarenax might like some of the stuff though.
[/sblock]

 

[Lord Sessadore]

[sblock=OOC]Cool, I'll have to try to get a look at it eventually. More options is always good [/sblock]

 

[CaBaNa]

After getting over the initial shock of the extreme affect of the thorn, Massacre's teeth chatter a short chuckle, Sarenax, that may be the palest I've ever seen your scales. The wizard casts a sideways glance at Kalas, One day you'll come to terms with being Undead Like Me... Of course I know which way to go, but I'd be more entertained watching you guess. Orelal's hubris was almost visible in his words.

[sblock=OOC]

Standard action to cast Sideways Glance...

Massacre is bluffing, he isn't sure, but he has a guess that each will be another fate pillar.

Holy water in one, raven skull in another, and holy writings in the last.

[/sblock]

 

[Oni]

Kylek slapped a heavy hand down on Sarenax's back. I thought you might give up the ghost there for a moment, he said with a booming chuckle as he walked past the ebony dragonborn.

A few paces past him he looked down at the wad of thorn he had so roughly grabbed from the bushes. Letting them drop from his hand he studied the rough palm, a long low rumbling growl issuing forth from his chest. After a moment he set aside his introspection and looked up at the paths that lay before them. Without hesitation his eyes lock on the center path.

That way. Right up the middle.

[sblock=ooc]

Heh, Kylek's ego even trumps my rule of always go left.

[/sblock]

 

[stonegod]

Batin prepares to follow, but adds softly, The choice matters not, for they all go to the same place eventually.

 

[CaBaNa]

Lucifa strides a few steps, and takes to air again,
Never-the-less. the eladrin skull chirped.

 

[Lord Sessadore]

"Very well." Sarenax intones as he moves towards the central path with the rest of his companions.
[sblock=OOC]I'm fairly sure that Cabana has the right of it - three paths, three more places we need to visit before seeing the high priestess. I don't think it particularly matters which order we take the paths. Looking forward to three more episodes of epic bloodshed here [/sblock]

 

[renau1g]

Kalas wheels Gilthanas towards the center path and leads the others out of the mists.

[sblock=OOC]
Kalas will go first?
[/sblock]

 

[covaithe]

Kalas leads the way down the center path. The mist seems to retreat before you as you pass, but the way back remains open, and you can see clearly for some distance.

After perhaps half a mile's trek, you come to another clearing in the mists. Here, there is another monumental temple. The north end is intact, while the south end is ruined. The stone plaza again surrounded by luminous mists that light the area brightly, is roughly paved, and a shallow channel of water runs from north to south through the middle of the temple. Pure water bubbles up from great stone cisterns in a pool to the north, flows southward beneath an arched stone bridge, and sinks into another pool at the south end of the plaza.

There are more dead bodies of monks here, but no obvious enemies to have killed them. Looking around more carefully, you can see that whoever killed these monks left other damage behind. At the center of the bridge, a ritual circle pulses with foul red menace, and a palpable miasma of corruption exudes from it. The water passing beneath the bridge is tainted by the corruption, and the southern pool is a brackish mire of filth and stench.

Both ends of the pool exude magic auras, though they feel very different. The northern end feels cool and pleasant, refreshing. The effects of the water there on those touching it would likely be beneficial. The southern end. on the other hand, feels as foul to magical senses as to mundane ones, and you instinctively shy away from touching it.